Sanctuary Cities Turn Away Migrant Buses Amid Crisis

As the illegal immigration crisis continues to unfold, suburban areas outside major cities like New York City and Chicago are grappling with the influx of migrants arriving in their neighborhoods. Local officials are now taking a stand, fighting to prevent busloads of migrants from being unloaded in their communities.

In December alone, the number of encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border reached a record-breaking 300,000. This surge in illegal immigration has put immense pressure on these suburban areas, as migrants are transported north from the southern border via buses and airplanes.

While there is empathy for those seeking asylum or those trying to help them, local leaders like Mayor Reed Gusciora of Trenton, New Jersey, acknowledge that they simply cannot accommodate these migrants. The strain on resources and infrastructure is too great.

This issue has gained attention due to protests from southern states, particularly Texas. Texas Governor Greg Abbott started bussing migrants to New York City and other sanctuary jurisdictions as a means of alleviating the burden on border communities. Since then, approximately 27,000 migrants have been sent to New York City alone.

In response, mayors like Sam Joshi of Edison, New Jersey, have taken matters into their own hands. Joshi recently announced via social media that he has instructed law enforcement and emergency management departments to charter a bus to transport illegal migrants back to the southern Texas/Mexican border.

Opposition to migrant arrivals is not limited to New Jersey. In Illinois’ Grundy County, near the suburbs of Chicago, highway signs clearly read, “NO MIGRANT BUSES THIS EXIT.” Local rural communities have voiced their challenges in accommodating migrants who arrive unexpectedly, often lacking supplies and concrete plans. Grundy County Sheriff Ken Briley has highlighted the strain on their limited tax base, which hinders their ability to offer adequate resources to these individuals.

The statistics are clear. From December 1 to December 31, there were over 302,000 documented attempts by migrants to cross the U.S. southern border. Since the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1, there have been more than 785,000 reported encounters with migrants—this represents the highest total for the first quarter ever recorded.